INSTRUCTIONS: This instrument is designed to measure attitudes towards the use of computers in our society. It is not a test, so there are no right or wrong answers. Using the scale below, indicate your level of agreement or disagreement in the space which is next to each statement.

1 2 3 4 5

Strongly Disagree Undecided Agree Strongly

Disagree Agree

___ 1. Computers will never replace human life.

___ 2. Computers make me uncomfortable because I don't understand

them.

___ 3. People are becoming slaves to computers.

___ 4. Computers are responsible for many of the good things we

enjoy.

___ 5. Soon our lives will be controlled by computers.

___ 6. I feel intimidated by computers.

___ 7. There are unlimited possibilities of computer applications

that haven't even been thought of yet.

___ 8. The overuse of computers may be harmful and damaging to

humans.

___ 9. Computers are dehumanizing to society.

___10. Computers can eliminate a lot of tedious work for people.

___11. The use of computers is enhancing our standard of living.

___12. Computers turn people into just another number.

___13. Computers are lessening the importance of too many jobs now

done by humans.

___14. Computers are a fast and efficient means of gaining

information.

___15. Computers intimidate me because they seem so complex.

___16. Computers will replace the need for working human beings.

___17. Computers are bringing us into a bright new era.

___18. Soon our world will be completely run by computers.

___19. Life will be easier and faster with computers.

___20. Computers are difficult to understand and frustrating to

work with.

Computer Attitude Scale

Gary S. Nickell, Minnesota State University Moorhead

John N. Pinto, Morningside College

Scoring Key:

To score the Computer Attitude Scale (CAS) first reverse the scores for the following items: 2,3,5,6,8,9,12,13,15,16,18,20. For example, a score of “1” becomes a “5." Next add up all twenty scores to obtain the total CAS score. This score should range from 20 to 100 with a neutral score of 60.

Normative Data: This scale was first given to 207 college students. Their average score on the CAS was 73.96 with a Standard Deviation of 8.8. Reference:

Nickell, G. S., & Pinto, J. N. (1986). The computer attitude scale. Computers in Human Behavior, 2, 301-306.

Reference:

Nickell, G.S., & Pinto, J.N. (1986). The Computer Attitude Scale. Computers in Human Behavior, 2, 301-306.

Studies using, citing, or reviewing the Computer Attitude Scale

Brock, D. B. & Sulsky, L. M. (1994). Attitudes toward computers:

Construct validation and relations to computer use. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 15, 17-35.

Chen, M. C. (1997). Attitudes toward microcomputer use of university

business instructors in Taiwan, ROC. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, National Changhua University of Education, Taiwan.

Harrison, A. W. & Rainer, R. K. (1992). An examination of the factor

structure and concurrent validities for the Computer Attitude Scale, the Computer Anxiety Rating Scale, and the Computer-Self-Efficacy Scale. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 52(3), 735-745.

Harrison, A. W. & Rainer, R.K. (1996). A general measure of user

computing satisfaction. Computers in Human Behavior, 12(1), 79-92. Hudiburg, R. A. (1989). Psychology of computer use: VII. Measuring

technostress: Computer-related stress. Psychological Reports, 64, 767-772.

Hudiburg, R. A. (1989). Psychology of computer use: XVII. The

computer technology hassles scale: Revision, reliability, and some correlates. Psychological Reports, 65, 1387-1394.

Hudiburg, R. A. (1990). Relating computer-associated stress to

computerphobia, Psychological Reports, 67, 311-314. Hudiburg, R. A., Brown, S. R., & Jones, T. M. (1993). Psychology of

computer use: XXIX. Measuring computer users’ stress: The computer hassles scale. Psychological Reports, 73, 923-929.

Jawahar, I.M., Elango, B. (1998). Predictors of performance in software

training: Attitudes toward computers versus attitudes toward working with computers. Psychological Reports, 83, 227-233.

Lalomia, M. J. & Sidowski, J. B. (1991). Measurements of computer

attitudes: A review. International Journal of Human Computer Interaction, 3, 171-197.

Nickell, G. S., & Pinto, J. N. (1986). The computer attitude scale.

Computers in Human Behavior, 2, 301-306.

Nickell, G. S., & Seado, P. C. (1986). The impact of attitudes and experience on small business computer use. American Journal of Small Business, 10, 37-48.

Nickell, G.S., Schmidt, C.R. & Pinto (1987). Gender and sex role

differences in computer attitudes and experience. (Report No. CG 202 047). Moorhead, MN: Moorhead State University, Psychology Department. (ERIC Document Reproduction Services NO. ED 284 114).

Ogletree, S. M. & Williams, S. W. (1990). Sex and sex-typing effects on

computer attitudes and aptitude. Sex Roles, 23, 703-712. Pinto, J., Calvillo, M. & Nickell, G. (1985). A concurrent validity

study of the Computer Attitude Scale. (Report No. TM 850609). Sioux City, IA: Morningside College , Psychology Department. (ERIC Document Reproduction Services NO. ED 263 138).

Rainer, R., Kelly, Jr., & Miller, M. D. (1996). An assessment of the

psychometric properties of the computer attitude scale. Computers in Human Behavior, 12, 93-105.

Raffrey, B. (1997). Anthropocentrism and anthropomorphism with respect

to computers: Measures, predictors, and relationships with computer attitudes. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.

Rosen, L. D., & Maguire, P. (1990). Myths and realities of

computerphobia: A meta-analysis. Anxiety Research, 3, 175-191. Rosenfeld, P., Doherty, L. M., Vicino, S. M., & Greaves, J. (1988).

Attitudes towards computers among civilian employees in a military organization. Submitted to Division 19 (Military Psychology) of APA for the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.

Sherer, M. (1997) Introducing computers to frail residents of homes for

the aged. Educational Gerontology, 23 (4), 345-358. Temple, L., & Lips, H. (1989). Gender differences and similarities in

attitudes toward computers. Computers in Human Behavior, 5, 215-226.

Winkel, M., Nickell, G. & Pinto, J. (1985, April) Attitudes toward

computers: A cross-cultural comparison. Paper presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association, Austin, Texas.

Zakrajsek, T. D., Waters, L. K., Popovich, P. M., Craft, S., & Hampton,

W. T. (1990). Convergent validity of scales measuring computer-related attitudes. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 50, 343-349.